Locking device for caps of uptwister machines



Aug. 25, 1953 w. v. HENRY 2,649,683

LOCKING DEVICE FOR CAPS OF UP-TWISTER MACHINES Filed Dec. 19, 1951 IN VEN TOR.

By Iii/Jim 107mg Patented Aug. 25 1953 LOCKING DEVICE FOR GAPS OF UP- TWISTER MACHINES William V. Henry, Candler, N. 0., assignor' to American Enka Corporation, Enka, N. 0., a corporation of Delaware Application December 19, 1951, Serial No. 262,460

3 Claims.

1 This invention relates to a locking device, and more particularly to a centrifugal locking device for the cap of an up-twister machine.

In the twisting of thread, fibers and filaments,

of the spindle l is mounted an elastic locking member 9.. Locking member 9 has a longitudinal bore 5 of approximately the same diameter considerable difficulty has heretofore been ex- 5 as the outside diameter of spindle l which passes perienced in retaining the up-twister cap on the through the bore 5. Near the lower end of lockspindle. Since the spindle must be operated at ing member 9 is a collaror flange 8 which is a high rate of speed the cap has a tendency to seated in an annular groove 6 in t n of fly off, subjecting operating personnel to a serious mounting sleeve I5.. Mounting sleev 15, which is hazard and causing possible damage to the cap 10 slidably engaged on spindle I is provided with and to the thread or filament wound on the spool a set screw it so that the position of locking or bobbin. Several centrifugal locking devices dev 9 may be adjust d up r d wn on spindle which have been proposed in the past have proved I. In view of the resilience of the material of to be either too complicated or not entirely satisconstruction, locking member 9 may be readily factory in operation inserted in mounting sleeve l5 before the sleeve An object of this invention is to provide a relai placed on the Spindle by firmly pushing thereon tively inexpensive and simple device for locking with sufficient firmness to momentarily deform t cap f an up-twister t th spindle collar 9 of the member 9 and cause it to become A further object is to provide a locking device Seated in groove 6. It will be apparent that once which works on centrifugal principles and which looking member 9 and mounting sleeve l5 are automatically unlocks to permit easy removal of placed on spindl l d set screw I6 is tightened, the cap from the spindle when the spindle stops locking member 9 will be firmly fixed on the rotating. spindle, particularly insofar as movement up These objects are accomplished in this invenor down on the spindle is concerned. tion by providing an elastic member ada ted to Locking member 9 may be made entirely of be attached to th spindle and provided with at rubber, ela Composition. y u able maleast one vertical slit so as to form two or more Berial Of a resilient nature s, for example, by sections which will be forced outwardly by cencasting or machining. Locking member 9 is comtrifugal force. A cap is provided which has a prised of a tubular stem portion 1 provided near sleeve member extending downwardly from the its lower end with a collar 8 and at s pper end hub and surrounding the elastic member. At its h a ove anging umbrella or mushroom lower end the sleeve member has an inwardly shapedeXtenSion I". At least one, and preferturned lip. When the spindle rotates, the slit ably l, $11175 I are made t rough the mush- Sections of the elastic member are forced troom shaped extension l0. These slits ll pierce wardly by centrifugal force and the lower edges the entire wall of extension Ii) as well as the unof these sections tend to contact the lip of the derlying portion of tubular stem 1 in such a mansleeve when there is any tendency on the part of her as to make p b the locking mechanism the cap to fiy ofi". Thus the cap is effectively which will be explained more fully hereinafter. held on the spindle so long as the spindle is ro- Uptwist r Cap I2, which is adapted to maintain tating. When the rotation ceases, the slit secbobbin 4 in alignment on spindle I, is provided tions of the elastic member automatically conwith an opening faced with a liner l3 through tract and the cap may be lifted off. which the spindle protrudes. A sleeve member In the accompanying drawing: H, which may be made of light metal or plastic, Figure 1 shows a sectional view of an up-twistis firmly attached to the hub portion [8 of cap er spindle equipped with one form of the locka by a pressure fit, and extends downwardly ing device of the invention; therefrom concentric to locking member 9. At its Figure 2 shows the locking device of Figure lower end, sleeve I1 is provided wit a lip 19 1 during rotation of the spindle; and which turns upwardly and inwardly toward spin- Figure 3 is a perspective view of the locking dle l. The annular opening formed by lip [9 device of Figures 1 nd 2 together with its mountis such that there is a slight clearance between m sleeve lip l9 and the outer circumference of mushroom Referring now to the drawing, reference nushaped extension i0 when the locking member meral I designates the spindle of an up-twister 9 passes through the opening, machine. The lower portion of the spindle is Referring now to Figure 2, the locking action provided with a driving means indicated t 2 and of the present invention is as follows: with u twister cap I 2 in place, spindle I is rotated by the driving means. Rotation of the spindle, of course, rotates locking member 9 mounted thereon as well as bobbin 4 and cap [2. Centrifugal force causes sections [4 of locking member 9 to pivot outwardly from tubular stem portion 1 and away from spindle I, as shown in- Figure 2. If there is any tendency on the part of cap 12 to fly ofi during rotation of the spindle, lip l9 moves upwardly and contacts the lower edge,-

20 of one or more of the sections, l4-and.is-re-. strained thereby with a ratchet-like action. It will thus be apparent that the cap is held'securely on the spindle by the locking actioniofi member 9 so long as the spindle rotates. Whentherotation of the spindle ceases, sections [4 of looking member 9 automatically; returntqtheir; nor:

the spirit thereof; it to be. understood that the. invention is. only... limitedby: the: scop of the followingclaims.

What isclaimedis:

1., In. a, twister, a spindle, anelastic member having. at-leastonevertical slit :therein mounted on said-spindle a. cap andag, sleeve depending therefrom, said; elastic member being normally outv cit-engagement with said-sleevebut adapted to. expand whenhactuated by-centrifugal force and engage said sleeve to look said cap to said spindle during rotation of said spindle.

2. A locking device for an up-twister cap comprising an elastic member adapted for attachment to a spindle, said member being comprised of a tubular stem having at its upper end an overhanging mushroom shaped extension, said extension and said tubular stem portion subjacent thereto having a plurality of vertical slits therein, whereby th upper part of said member will expand whenv actuated by centrifugal force to prevent. said cap from being thrown off when said spindle rotates.

3.- Inan up-twister; a spindle, an elastic member mounted on-said spindle, said member being comprisedofa tubular stem having at its upper endan'overhanging: mushroom shaped extension, said extension and said tubular stem portion subjacent thereto having a plurality of vertical slits therein, a cap and a sleeve attached to and extending downwardly from the cap, said sleeve being concentric to and surrounding saidelastic member, whereby the upper part of said member will expand when actuated by centrifugal force to contactsaid sleeve and prevent said cap from being thrown off when said spindle rotates.

WILLIAM V. HENRY.

References. Cited in the file. of this .patent UNITED STATES "PATENTS 

